A late plan to be involved with a walk from Bampton today, with SPR and then an opportunity to lead the group. Slightly oddly Steve decided to come along as he wanted to get to know a new group member. Quite a few today – Anna, Mirella, Araminta, Richard – who I’d met before and also Castel and Elvira. So with Steve and myself a full bus load. An early start as we arrived in the centre of Bampton at 8.30.
To start we are on the main road, over our first stretch of water and then turn on to a footpath which crosses fields and is working its way towards the River Thames. This is a flat valley area with many water courses. Some flooding including a large area now being taken advantage of by ducks and geese. We meet the Thames at old Man’s Bridge and stop for clothing adjustments and comfort breaks.
The Thames is much nearer its source at this point and although still quite wide it is a series of little bends and meanders and is quite different in nature than nearer to Oxford. We continue along this path which sometimes follows closely to the river and then short cuts a particular bend! At Rushey Lock and weir we have a more definite stop for coffee, snacks and for some a sit down.
We cross over the road to Bampton at Tadpole Bridge and continue along the Thames. The pub does look very appealing but it is still relatively early. There are a few muddy patches in this next stretch and we get a little caught out by not sticking to the river bank and trying to cut out a wriggle or two!
We are soon at ‘Tenfoot Bridge’, apparently named after the size of the gap between the two uprights to allow for boats to pass through. It looks exactly the same as the previous bridge, which should make logical sense!
A stop for lunch in the sunshine, some sitting on the bridge and others various sections of bank. Wide open spaces. There are reed beds near here and very few features. Some good conversations to be had and part of the role as leader to make sure that everyone is spoken to and conversed with.
There is a strange section ahead of us as we pass a weir. A straight cut has been made and the natural route of the river is a big loop round. Half way along this section are some steps up on to a track, alternatively we could go along to the lock, cross the river and double back on the other side to cross a bridge to the top of the steps. Having been given the route which includes this … I choose to let common sense prevail and we just go up the steps!!
A bit of track and very minor road walking as we leave the river and through the tiny hamlet of Chimney – very strange name! Our path turns a right angle at Chimney going due north, then almost directly west and then north,north west! I’d love to know the logic behind this route building!
We stop for a drink at a lay-by by a bridge over ‘Great Brook’ – a wide channel which looks somewhat man made. We need to walk along here and then down to Tadpole Bridge. Unbeknown to me Steve has contacted Jane our driver and she appears as we are half way along this road as she can’t park at the pub. So our walk finishes rather abruptly!!
I will admit to feeling a little annoyed at his interference and his plan to deviate from the original route which should have taken us to the villages of Cote and Aston. If I ever led this walk again this would be a much more preferable finish than a full long stretch of road and being hijacked before a natural completion of the day – no chance to hand out my ginger biscuits!
Marion's 50 Walk Challenge 